Places And Travel
9 Best Towns In California To Retire Comfortably
The piece contrasts Hollywood’s glamor with quieter, affordable California towns offering cost-effective living, walkability, and charming communities.
The Difference Between A County And A Borough
One way or another, in order to rule an area effectively, it must at some point be divided, with clear boundaries. Here's how we got counties and boroughs.
The State Parks With The Oldest Buildings Still Standing
These state parks didn't build their oldest buildings; they inherited them, from a 1772 gristmill to a Revolutionary War-era fort.
The National Parks With Sand Dunes
The National Parks With Sand Dunes include Great Sand Dunes, White Sands, Death Valley, and Kobuk Valley, where wind has shaped sand for thousands of years.
The 7 Can't-Miss Towns In Washington
From Leavenworth to Langley, discover seven unforgettable Washington towns filled with mountain views, waterfront charm, rich history, and local culture.
The Largest Public Library In The United States
What's the largest public library in the US? The Library of Congress cheats, so the real crown goes to the New York Public Library. Plus Boston and Chicago.
2026's 12 Best Small Towns To Visit In The Pacific Northwest
Ride North America's steepest gondola, ring a whale bell, or walk a ghost-town street across 12 overlooked Pacific Northwest towns worth visiting in 2026.
Island Hopping Across Lake Erie
Island Hopping Across Lake Erie means ferry-hopping between Pelee, Kelleys, and the Bass Islands, a bi-national run of wineries and glacial grooves.
8 Prettiest Main Streetscapes In California's Sierra Nevada
Iron balconies in Sutter Creek, boardwalks in Columbia, brick rows in Truckee: eight Sierra Nevada towns whose gold rush Main Streets are still standing.
7 Cute Small Town Drives In Connecticut
Connecticut may be one of the smaller states in the Union, but its multiple scenic small town drives help it punch above its weight.
The Cheapest Beautiful Towns To Live In New Jersey
New Jersey has a sprinkling of surprisingly affordable, beautiful towns throughout the state, including towns on the Delaware River.
The Best State Parks For A Weekend Escape
The Best State Parks For A Weekend Escape, from Hocking Hills and Letchworth to Custer, Fall Creek Falls, Goblin Valley, Silver Falls, and Gulf State.
Why Mountain Goats Aren't Native To Some Parks That Have Them
Learn why mountain goats live in parks outside their native range and how hunting releases, escapes, and migration put them there.
2026's 12 Most Scenic The Great Lakes Towns
Skip the crowded shorelines. These quiet Great Lakes towns hide sea stacks, glacial grooves, and clear springs across five lakes and two countries.
The Largest Churches By Seating Capacity In The United States
The Largest Churches By Seating Capacity In The United States hold more worshippers than some sports arenas, from megachurches to grand cathedrals.
The State Parks Where Hikers Get Lost Most Often
Some state parks take you deep into rugged mountains, dense forests, winding canyons, or remote backcountry where it’s easy to lose your bearings.
11 Small Towns on the Atlantic Coast with the Best Downtowns
From foggy Maine fishing harbors to a Florida reef town, these 11 Atlantic Coast small towns pair a walkable main street with a working waterfront.
What Happens To A State Park After A Wildfire
What Happens To A State Park After A Wildfire: closures drag on for hazards, rain brings debris flows, and wildlife returns long before people do.
10 Cost-Effective Retirement Towns In Idaho
Explore 10 affordable Idaho towns for retirees, from Emmett’s Cherry Festival to Blackfoot’s fair, museums, parks, and outdoor recreation.
Which States Have The Cheapest Cost Of Living
Oklahoma is the cheapest state in America at 17 percent below the national average. The nine cheapest states, and the specific town worth moving to in each.
The 8 Can't-Miss Towns In Colorado
The 8 Can't-Miss Towns In Colorado trade big-city crowds for natural hot springs, ancient cliff dwellings, and narrow-gauge trains in the Rockies.
12 Texas Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets
Some downtowns you remember long after you leave. Meet twelve Texas main streets where the courthouse square is still the best show in town.
The 9 Can't-Miss Towns In Arizona
Whether you enjoy exploring state parks, local history, or participating in offbeat festivals, you can’t afford to miss any of these 9 Arizona towns.
5 Most Shark Infested Beaches In South Carolina
Bites are rare but real along the South Carolina coast. Here are the five beaches where sharks turn up most, plus how to swim smart all summer.
9 Most Relaxing Indiana Towns
These nine Indiana towns are brimming with attractions where visitors can soak in the local charm without having to navigate bustling crowds.
9 Idyllic Small Towns In Tennessee To Visit In 2026
Trade the crowds for nine small Tennessee towns where one day holds a landmark cave, a Nicklaus golf course, a mini Eiffel Tower, or a classic drive-in.
9 Best Places To Call Home In Delaware In 2026
With affordable housing, low taxes, and plenty of places to explore, it is easy to see why so many people are choosing to put down roots in Delaware.
11 Most Breathtaking Towns In Florida
These towns in Florida are truly breathtaking, featuring Victorian and pastel architecture, botanical gardens, and so much more.
5 Old-Timey Mining Towns In West Virginia
Collectively, these towns demonstrate how West Virginia’s mining communities preserve their industrial heritage while responding to changing times.
The National Parks With The Most Endangered Species
The National Parks With The Most Endangered Species protect species found nowhere else, from the Haleakala silversword to the Devils Hole pupfish.
Why Some Counties Have No Government At All
Not every U.S. state relies on traditional county government. See how three states divide local power and provide essential public services differently.
The Forests Where The Trees All Lean The Same Way
The Forests Where The Trees All Lean The Same Way turn toppled trunks into records of blasts, storms, and slow-moving ground across eight national forests.
10 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Switzerland This Year
10 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Switzerland This Year span the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Glacier, Rhine Falls, and the waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen Valley.
What Happens When A National Park Runs Out Of Water
Aging pipes and deeper droughts are draining the parks. Here is the careful, staged response that keeps them open when the water starts to run low.
5 Best Lakeside Towns in South Australia
South Australia's lakeside towns swap surf for still water. Paddle Lake Bonney, walk the Blue Lake crater rim, and watch waterbirds on Lake Albert.
The National Parks With The Most Bird Species
Head out to one of these six national parks with the most bird species, with a bonus detour to Point Reyes National Seashore.
Why Bristlecone Pines Only Grow Where Nothing Else Will
The oldest trees on Earth grow on white rock with almost no phosphorus. Why bristlecone pines only grow where nothing else will, and what it costs them.
Why Yellowstone Has No Grizzly-Free Zones Left
Why Yellowstone Has No Grizzly-Free Zones Left is a recovery story, though low densities across millions of acres mean most visitors still never see one.
2026's 11 Best Small Towns To Visit on the Pacific Coast
Cape Flattery to Carmel-by-the-Sea, these 11 small towns are the best stops on the Pacific Coast in 2026 for beaches, seafood, lighthouses, and sea stacks.
The Cheapest Beautiful Towns To Live In Utah
Discover the most affordable places to live in Utah, where below-average home prices, strong local economies, and aesthetic scenery go hand in hand.